different between motherly vs devoted

English

Etymology

From Middle English moderly, from Old English m?dorl?? (“motherly, maternal”), from Proto-Germanic *m?d?rl?kaz (“motherly, maternal”), equivalent to mother +? -ly.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?m?ð?li/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?m?ð?li/

Adjective

motherly (comparative more motherly, superlative most motherly)

1. Befitting a mother; warm, caring, nurturing, protective, loving.

   • Clover was a stout motherly mare approaching middle life.

Derived terms

• motherliness

Translations

English

Etymology

From devote +? -ed.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??v??t?d/

Verb

devoted

1. simple past tense and past participle of devote

Adjective

devoted (comparative more devoted, superlative most devoted)

1. Vowed; dedicated; consecrated.
2. Strongly emotionally attached; very fond of someone or something.

   Bob and Sara are devoted to their children.

3. Zealous; characterized by devotion.
4. (obsolete) Cursed; doomed.
   • 1824, James Hogg, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, Oxford 2010, p. 31:

     The attendance of that brother was now become like the attendance of a demon on some devoted being that had sold himself to destruction […].

   • 1828, Washington Irving, A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus, book 1:

     They had recently considered themselves devoted men, hurrying forwards to destruction; they now looked upon themselves as favorites of fortune, and gave themselves up to the most unbounded joy.

Derived terms

• devotedly
• devotedness

Translations